“進退維谷”，意思是無論是進還是退，都是處在困境之中，維相當于“是”，谷比喻“困境”。與“進退兩難”同義，可以翻譯為“be thrown into a dilemma”。與英文習語“between a rock and a hard place；between the devil and the deep blue sea”意思相近，表示“between two equally difficult or unacceptable choices”。

例句：

我下不了決心，陷入了進退維谷的境地。
I couldn't make up my mind. I was caught between a rock and a hard place.

他顯然進退維谷。
He was clearly between the devil and the deep blue sea.

當你不得不在事業(yè)和感情之間做出選擇時，真的是進退兩難。
You were really between a rock and a hard place when you had to choose between your career and your relationship.